Fresh off his 100m success in Holland over the weekend, on-form T&T sprinter Richard Thompson is expected to replicate his performance today at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, in Oslo, Norway, today. Usain Bolit, the record holder of the 100m and 200m events at the now-IAAF Diamond League event will not line up, giving Thompson the status as favourite to win today’s event. On Sunday, Thompson, T&T’s 2008 Olympic medalist finished in a blistering season-best 9.95 seconds, just one tenth of a second off his personal best and the third fastest time of the year, to capture gold at the FBK Games, in Hengelo.
That came a week after he clocked 9.74 seconds in a wind-assisted finish to win the 100m event at the NTC/Pure Athletics Last Chance Meet. The time, however, did not stand as the wind gauge malfunctioned, but it would have been the world leading time. He lines up in lane five against France’s Jimmy Vicaut, who shares the same season best time, former world champion Kim Collins of St Kitts, South Africa’s Simon Magakwe, Norweigan Jaysuma Saidy Ndure and Britons Kilty Richard, Daniel Talbot and Adam Gemili. In another highly-anticipated race, US Allyson Felix will go head-to-head with Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast in the women’s 200m. Felix, a three-time world champion will be seeking to reestablish herself as the dominant force over the 200m after an injury-plagued 2013.